S. Floridians Frequently Violate Cuban Trade Ban

U.s. Trying To Crack Down On Cash Flow

South Florida, home to the nation's largest Cuban-American community, is also the place where the trade embargo against Cuba is most frequently violated, U.S. Treasury Department officials say.

Among the most common violators are U.S. residents trying to sneak cash to family and friends in Cuba. Sending money into Cuba is banned under the embargo, with few exceptions.

During the past two years, U.S. authorities have confiscated $400,000 from passengers on their way to the island from Miami, the only U.S. city with authorized indirect charter flights to Cuba.

The Treasury Department, which oversees embargo regulations, opened a Miami office last year to toughen enforcement. But one critic, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, says the Clinton administration isn't doing enough to make sure the embargo works.

"I am deeply disappointed with the ongoing lack of embargo enforcement, and am concerned that OFAC [Office of Foreign Assets Control) has not contributed significantly to that end," said Diaz-Balart in a letter to the Treasury Department last week.

Treasury officials counter that they are serious about enforcement. The Miami office has a hotline for tips on embargo violations: 305-536-6769.

"Our priority is the profiteer. Those who are moving large sums of money. But that's not to say we will not take appropriate action against [all) violators of the law," said Richard Newcomb, Treasury's OFAC director.

At the heart of the problem is this dilemma for many exiles: how to get rid of Castro without making life too miserable for loved ones in Cuba.

"The question is do you want to help your family in the short term, or help them in the long term by ending the dictatorship," said Yanik Fenton, a congressional aide to Diaz-Balart.

Many opt for the short term. Exiles pump $400 million to $600 million into the Cuban economy a year, according to Cuban government estimates. But U.S. officials say Cuba may exaggerate these figures as part of its anti-embargo campaign.

"Such a large network would have to exist for this money to move into Cuba. If we had an indication of the source, we would take immediate action," Newcomb said.

For the most part, violations involve passengers trying to hide small amounts of cash for family and friends, said customs agents who randomly inspect Miami-to-Havana charter flights.

U.S. residents visiting family in Cuba are allowed $100 a day in travel expenses, plus an extra $100 for gifts.

But sometimes authorities catch passengers with large amounts of money on their way to Cuba. They are professional couriers who charge anywhere from $10 to $20 for every $100 taken into Cuba, officials said.

One couple pleaded guilty to Treasury violations last year, after they were caught traveling to Cuba with a total of $61,000 separated into envelopes with names and addresses of Cuba residents.

But for the most part, those who violate the cash ban are only trying to help relatives with small amounts of extra cash.

In these cases, passengers are given the option of turning the money over to someone staying behind, or getting off the flight, said Ed Garcia, a senior customs agent at Miami International Airport.

"Mostly the amount is minimal and the people are trying to help their families," Garcia said. "But it's our job to enforce the law."